by Penny Angeles-Tan | Nov 19, 2020 | Events
The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) is bringing its one-stop-shop via a multi-product virtual event called BPI Lifestyle: A Virtual Experience slated on November 20 and 21, which caters to all its clients from Southern Metro Manila.
The event will feature BPI’s product partners from Auto and Housing Loan, Credit Card, and Personal Loans, Business Banking Loans BPI M/S, and BPI-Philam, with special offers and discounts. There will also be a series of webinars with the topics on owning your dream home, responsible borrowing, the next normal for MSMEs, sustainable fitness, and more.
The Zoom event will allow clients to speak with a BPI representative during the webinars. There are also one-on-one private conversations via breakout rooms where clients can ask for advice regarding loans and other services. To ensure the safety and protection of both clients and employees in this pandemic, all applications and transactions will be done digitally.
Some of the promo and special offerings include credit card deals, such as:
- conversion of credit card line to cash for a rate of up to 0.59% for 36 months,
- waived fees for three years for preferred clients, and
- waived AMF (annual minimum spend conditions apply) for personal cards.
BPI Loans
BPI clients may also apply for a BPI Personal Loan and get a rate for as low as 0.98% for 36 months; as for auto loans, they may avail of the Step-up Pay Plan, which guarantees the lowest monthly amortization on the client’s first years in the loan, plus event-exclusive low rates and discounts.
For the Housing Loan, there will be a 5.88% fixed rate for the first one to three years and a 6.88% fixed for the first four to five years. For Business Banking Loan, there will be a waived process fee amounting to Php3,500.00.
BPI Insurance
For BPI MS Insurance, they will offer exclusive rates for all private vehicles* during the event; fire Insurance from Home Care Advantage, Condo Care Advantage, to Business Care Advantage; Family Personal Accident Insurance for only Php 999; and Hospital Confinement Income Protect (HCIP).
Clients may also avail of free Covid-19 Insurance Coverage amounting to Php 200,000 (for Breakout room or live conversations with a BSE) care of BPI-Philam.
For registration, you may visit https://www.bpi.com.ph/lifestyle-virtual-experience, you may also contact BPI representative Vince Yap at 0917-818-4623 for other inquiries.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Aug 23, 2020 | Business
The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), through BPI Foundation’s FinEd Unboxed program, recently rolled out a financial wellness webinar series titled “Stronger from Home” in collaboration with Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and Department of Education (DepEd), capitalizing on the digital platform in the new normal.
Almost 8,000 Facebook viewers and Zoom session participants nationwide joined the three-part webinar series where they learned the basics of saving and budgeting, credit management, fundamentals of investing, and avoidance of fraud and scams.
BPI Foundation Executive Director Owen Cammayo
“We recognize the dedication and contribution of our hardworking teachers in helping build the future of our country,” said BPI Foundation Executive Director Owen Cammayo.
“As our way of giving back, we are enabling them through financial wellness activities so they have a better chance of taking care of their own families, too, with the right mindset and approach toward money matters.”
Financial planning in the new normal
In the first “Stronger from Home” session, Ms. Salve Duplito, a veteran financial journalist, discussed the importance of financial planning in times of pandemics.
Salve Duplito, Financial Journalist
“We need to prepare ourselves for what lies ahead. Each and every one of us needs to protect our financial freedom. There are opportunities now that we can take advantage of during this difficult time. We have to maximize these for us to emerge stronger, better, and even more powerful,” she said.
Ms. Duplito advised teachers to stay on top of their finances by following a strict budget plan. To prepare for unplanned expenses, they are also encouraged to set up an emergency fund and avail of insurance, if possible.
Investing in times of pandemic
The second session was spearheaded by financial coach Randell Tiongson. He shared tips on how to look for investment opportunities during the pandemic while staying safe from fraud and scams.
Randell Tiongson, Financial Coach
“In a volatile, unpredictable global and local environment, the best strategy for investment and planning is to go back to the foundations,” he said.
Noting the importance of being financially ready before investing, Mr. Tiongson advised teachers to first know their objectives and time frame, and identify the risks they’re willing to take. “If we have better handling of our finances, we can do more and help more of our fellow Filipinos in need,” he added.
ePayment and Online Banking
For the final “Stronger from Home” session, Ms. Anna Lissa Racines from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) advised Filipinos to maximize the digital platforms in the safety of their homes.
Ms. Anna Lissa Racines from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)
“When it comes to your finances, I urge you, let’s make our new normal better than normal as we all work towards a new economy. Through ePayment and online banking, we’re not just limiting ourselves to unnecessary exposures but we’re also empowering ourselves,” said Ms. Racines.
She also reminded viewers to remain vigilant while doing financial transactions digitally by not sharing any sensitive information to anyone and transacting only with legitimate and trustworthy online vendors.
Hoping to create a culture of financial wellness through the three-part “Stronger from Home” webinar series, Mr. Cammayo added, “Today is the best time to prepare for tomorrow. By developing these financial management skills and instilling a mindset for financial responsibility, we can all contribute to a better Philippines.”
To know more about BPI Foundation and its FinEd Unboxed program, visit http://www.bpifoundation.org.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Aug 20, 2020 | Business
The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), through the Business Leadership Program (BLP) of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Inc. (AMCHAM), facilitated the first-ever virtual session of BLP to help student leaders steer their financial destinies in the right direction amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
BPI, in support of the Business Leadership Program of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Inc., facilitates its first-ever virtual session, teaching select student leaders about financial responsibility and how they can jumpstart their career through BPI’s Career Development Program.
The BLP 2020: Personal Financial Wellness aims to help students better understand the concept of financial responsibility, and how this will help them achieve both their financial and life goals.
Cathy Santamaria, BPI CMO
“It is important for these young students to learn the importance of saving and managing their finances carefully as early as now. This will be greatly beneficial for them when they become older and start investing on their own,” said BPI Chief Marketing Officer Cathy Santamaria.
BPI believes these talks about managing money will benefit student leaders, especially amid the pandemic when even the young ones are not spared from the impact of this health crisis. The Bank, through lectures on leadership, financial responsibility, and other finance-related topics, hope to influence young leaders to make wise financial decisions.
“These are uncertain times and the best we can offer the younger generation are insights and wisdom on how to prepare for a sustainable, financially secure life. Pandemics and other unfortunate incidents are wake-up calls we need to heed and prepare for,” Ms. Santamaria added.
Career development
BPI Chief Human Resources Officer Gina Eala also talked about how BPI nurtures the careers of its employees. The Bank, through its BPI Career Development Program, has become an ideal institution for those who want to start their careers in banking and finance.
“In BPI, we take care of employees’ development because we believe that a BPI learner is enabled, empowered, and a value-driven professional,” said Eala.
One of its flagship programs for career development is its Officership Training Program (OTP), which is the premium management training program of the Bank. This has made BPI an employer of choice among young talents.
“While these are challenging times, we remain committed to providing the necessary training and tools that would enable future leaders to understand the dynamics of the Bank’s sustainable and inclusive business framework,” explained Eala.
The BLP is an intensive business immersion program where top students of the country are given the opportunity to learn directly from leading companies through talks, lectures, discussions, and mentorships. A total of 216 students were trained over the years, empowering them to be leaders in their chosen field of work.
BPI has been supporting this program since 2012. BLP 2020, with the help of John Clements Consultants Inc., another partner, selected 27 student participants this year.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | May 22, 2020 | Health Tips
The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) says many companies need to improve their sustainability risk consciousness to come up with better business continuity plans as new risks, such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, become more likely possibilities in the future.
Jo Ann Eala, Head of BPI Sustainable Development Finance (SDF), said COVID-19, a rare but high-impact event, has opened the eyes of many, but there are existing, oft-ignored environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks which also require urgent attention.
Jo Ann Eala, Head of BPI Sustainable Development Finance
“Businesses must anticipate, prepare, and quickly adapt to the evolving global landscape. Sustainable and risk-conscious businesses are those that will survive during trying times. Risk consciousness, risk preparedness, and risk mitigation are key to sustainability,” she said.
Ms. Eala explained that BPI’s programs have promoted the inclusion of sustainability as part of clients’ business models, harnessing the Bank’s experience as the sustainability pioneer and leader in the Philippines since 2008. But as the world is hit with a pandemic of this scale, companies must now learn how to make use of risk-mitigating tools such as those used by BPI SDF to adapt, mitigate, and recover amidst the new normal.
“We are navigating unchartered waters as a result of this global pandemic which no one was prepared for. We need to adopt a new mindset that will change the way we do business,” she said.
She added that managing daily operations going forward will likely include the following:
Save on resources and reduce costs
- save electricity and water
- maximize manpower
- shift to less extravagant packaging and advertising
- opt for local vs. imported components of production
- cut non-essentials
- reduce transport and logistics
Choose efficient ways of doing business
- automate and go digital via secure platforms
- adopt technological innovations
- go paperless
- shift to higher efficiency equipment
- choose virtual communications and marketing vs traditional channels
Go back to basics
- focus on simple products that meet basic needs
- go natural
- go local
- drive down your carbon footprint
Manage business risks and build hazard resilience
- know your business risks – natural and man-made
- identify your weaker links
- mitigate organizational risks
- set up business continuity plans
“Remember that environmental and climate risk hazards like earthquakes, typhoons, flooding, and drought will not stop because there is a pandemic outbreak. Natural calamities will not give humans a reprieve, just because we are already suffering. It took COVID-19 for us to realize that risk management is a necessary component of business strategies,” she said.
BPI is offering the SDF program as a risk management tool for its clients and other stakeholders, as the bank helps clients achieve climate resilience and preparedness, noting that most industries are affected by the economic downturn caused by the wide-spread lockdowns across the country and the world. The SDF program allows clients to benefit from experts in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and climate resilience through free technical and financial advice for both large corporates and SMEs.
In the 3rd quarter of 2020, when businesses hopefully get back to some semblance of normalcy, BPI will be offering free webinars for SMEs as well as larger companies to save on electricity, produce renewable energy, shift to green buildings and more resilient climate-controlled animal housing facilities, and implement measures for business continuity should another pandemic hit.
Ms. Eala said BPI has been reporting its sustainable finance initiatives in the Bank’s annual integrated report. Compliance with a Sustainable Finance Framework (SFF) has recently been made a requirement by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, compelling Philippine banks and financial institutions to incorporate ESG and sustainability principles into their corporate strategy, risk management, and bank operations framework.
She said this is a process and the pandemic may serve as the impetus for more businesses to start the journey. By helping clients include sustainability practices in their businesses, BPI is able to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which are part of its own goals as a bank.
“Together with our clients and partners, we aim to harness our resources so we can bequeath a more sustainable world to the next generation, a generation that will be more conscious of the fact that good environmental, social and governance practices can no longer be ignored and should always be part of a short and long-term business plan,” she said.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 23, 2020 | Business
The Asset Magazine and Alpha Southeast Asia, two of the leading finance publications in Asia, have recognized the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) as one of the most sustainable financial institutions in the region that champions market and environment sustainability through its banking activities.
In the Asset ESG Corporate Awards 2019 of the Asset Magazine, BPI was given an award for being the Highly Commended Bank in Environmental Responsibility, citing BPI’s Sustainable Energy Finance (SEF) Program, now called Sustainable Development Finance (SDF), which helps finance green projects for the private sector.
For its part, the Marquee Awards of Alpha Southeast Asia Deal & Solution Awards measured BPI’s contributions to its clients and markets that made 2019 a standout year for the Bank, making it the Best Sustainable Finance House in the country.
Jo Ann Eala, Head of BPI Sustainable Development Finance, said BPI’s programs have integrated sustainability in its clients’ business models for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and climate resilience projects, harnessing its experience as the pioneer and one of the leading banks in sustainability in the Philippines since 2008.
Jo Ann Eala, Head of BPI Sustainable Development Finance
“We are happy that our sustainable banking efforts have been recognized by industry leaders and influencers. What makes the BPI SEF Program sustainable is our clear business model and mantra to ‘turn business green to gold.’ By ensuring that sustainability projects of clients comply with IFC standards to achieve energy, water, and materials savings, as well as lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, our clients are able to achieve overall project success and profitability,” said Ms. Eala.
In partnership with IFC of the World Bank Group, BPI introduced sustainable energy and climate finance in the Philippines in 2008. The bank has continued to lead in both the number of projects funded and portfolio size, with 333 sustainable energy projects funded and loans reaching over Php 133 Billion as of June 2019.
BPI has recognized the fact that shifting to sustainable business practices may be perceived as costly for SMEs. It has therefore provided technical consultations and advisory services free of charge to SMEs who cannot afford to set up their own engineering teams.
“It is not enough to comply with laws and corporate social responsibility targets. It is imperative that sustainability projects actually make money. In short, it is not enough that the project is green, it needs to yield gold. It needs to be successful and profitable to be sustainable,” Eala said.
As a result of these efforts, BPI’s program has been showcased in several Green Finance, Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and other Responsible Finance conferences in the Philippines and abroad. BPI belongs to the Ayala Group of Companies who has adopted sustainability in the conduct of its business—a commitment that started in the 1980s and has continued to the present.
BPI’s new Sustainable Development Finance (SDF) program expands the bank’s green finance initiatives and bolsters the bank’s commitment to enable sustainable businesses in the country and contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). With SDF, BPI has consolidated its financing activities beyond renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate resilience and included sustainable agriculture, in response to the increasing need to adopt more efficient and climate-ready food production processes that will help the country achieve lower cost of food production as well as food security.
About BPI
The 168-year-old Bank of the Philippine Islands is the first bank in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. We are a universal bank with an expanded banking license. We provide diverse financial services that include deposits, cash management, asset management, securities brokerage, foreign exchange, and capital markets investments, bancassurance, corporate lending, leasing, and investment banking. BPI has the significant financial strength, with strong Tier 1 capital adequacy ratios and profitability, underpinned by a strong risk management regime. BPI is rated investment-grade by international credit rating agencies.
BPI Chief Human Resources Officer Gina Eala also talked about how BPI nurtures the careers of its employees. The Bank, through its BPI Career Development Program, has become an ideal institution for those who want to start their careers in banking and finance.
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